Chapter 10

10

ELLA

Jack inclines his head, waiting for me to answer the question about what brought me here … I don’t want pity but haven’t told anyone. I worry that I’ll need a box of tissues.

Twisting a loose thread on my shirt, I say, “Oh. I assumed you meant what happened with Slater. My stepmother died in a car accident. My dad was severely injured. The doctors are doubtful he’s going to recover, but I haven’t given up hope and pay for his care, which is why I’m still here at the resort.”

“I’m sorry, Ella. Sorry for your loss.” Sadness tinges his voice as if he speaks from a place of genuine understanding.

“After that happened, I wanted a pause button. A brief escape from all that, so when Slater suggested I come down here, I thought, why not? I needed a break from all the tears, the paperwork, and the decision-making. The first couple of days were good. But then I got robbed.”

“Here?” Jack asks with disbelief.

“Yeah. It was probably some locals …”

Jack shakes his head slowly with disbelief.

“There’s a seedy underbelly wherever you go. Of course, Slater did everything he could to get my things back and managed to find my phone, but not my wallet.” I recall the day when I found my phone in the villa’s bathroom, which was odd, but he must’ve figured I’d see it there.

That should have been the first sign my YOLO was more like an Oh-No.

“I take it your accounts were drained.”

I glance down at the sand, feeling foolish because I also thought my belongings were secure here. I had left my purse on a chaise lounge while I went in the water. Granted, now working behind the scenes, the resort boasts having a one-hundred percent rating for mitigating loss, but of course, I wasn’t going to come clean and tell them that their latest hire had her purse taken while on their property.

My voice is small when I tell Jack, “But that’s not all. I found Slater cheating on me with another hotel guest. We got in a huge fight when I confronted him.” I rub my left ring finger.

Jack’s eyes harden as he comes to an abrupt stop in the sand. “He hurt you?”

“Inadvertently sprained my ring finger when he slammed the door in my face after telling me it was over.”

“I’ll break his face.”

Bark Wahlburger echoes the sentiment with a low growl.

“Since I do my best to avoid him, that won’t be necessary.”

“Do you still have feelings for him?” Jack grinds out.

I balk. “No, absolutely not. I may have fibbed about my name, but that’s the truth. The guy is garbage.”

Jack’s nostrils flare and the muscle in his jaw twitches like he’s about to take out a bag of trash that personally offended him. My heart does a little somersault. I remind myself that although Slater was charming and cunning, flirty and fake, I’m never going to be fooled by a guy again, and certainly not a billionaire. Dating one is off the table. I’ll settle for a union guy, a tradesman, a regular Joe.

I don’t know much about Jack, but if he can afford to come here at least once a year, he does not fit into any of those categories.

However, to distract myself from the way his concern makes my tummy tumble, I add, “And now I’m stuck here.”

“Stuck? Like stuck on Slater?”

“No! Definitely not. Stuck like stranded.”

His eyebrows dip together.

I elaborate then say, “I didn’t ask my friends for help after everything with Slater because they’d both already bailed me out. More than once after the accident. Also, I was ashamed that I didn’t see through Slater and find a better way to earn money and support my father and myself. I’m a Hibbert. We’re resilient, determined, DIY-ers.”

Jack’s expression softens. “Ella, you don’t have to be ashamed of that. Sounds like the guy was a complete con artist. A professional by the sound of it. Probably deceived a lot of women.”

It feels good to ride the truth train, but Jack doesn’t understand. I lower my voice. “It’s just that his father owns this place. The whole island. Probably.”

Jack goes still and his jaw hangs open, then he laughs loudly, clutching his stomach.

“Yeah. It’s really funny. I go from riches to rags. Well, if you count having a thousand dollars in savings as being rich, which many people do, thank you very much.”

He shakes his head. “No, it’s not that. I’m just incredulous.”

Feeling vulnerable, I glance around. “Slater is probably on his yacht, spending the winter in Europe. Majorca or something. I’m just trying to get by, send my checks up north for Dad’s care, and eventually be able to go home. Not everyone can afford annual trips to a fancy resort in real life.”

Jack takes a steadying breath. “You’re right. I’m sorry. That wasn’t funny, exactly.”

I’m not quite sure how to gauge his response, but he’s smiling and gestures that we walk toward the harbor.

My mind rushes with everything I just relayed, wondering why he had such a strong, yet odd response when we reach the docks.

Jack taps a code into the entry for the longest one. We walk for what feels like a mile before stopping in front of a very large boat.

My knees turn wobbly. Actually, it’s the same yacht that sailed into the harbor when Slater told me about where he winters and that he couldn’t wait to show me that part of the world. Then, of course, after our fight, he disappeared after I told him I wasn’t about to be the sidepiece of a billionaire playboy, even if access to the money he offered could’ve helped.

Jack leads us around to the aft side and points to the name emblazoned across the back. The dog spins in circles as if we’re going for a ride. To prison, maybe. If Slater finds me here …

Jack points to the yacht and reads the boat’s name painted in blue letters across the stern, “Jack Be Quick.”

I’d better quickly get out of here.

He says, “My mother thought it was befitting for the aluminum-hulled speed demon with twin eighteen hundred horsepower engines and a gas turbine that can reach sixty knots.”

Looking over my shoulder in case security is on its way, I say, “I don’t know what that means.”

“It’s a super yacht.”

Jittering with anxiety, I cannot glean why this is important. If Slater spots me … “So, it’s fast?” I ask to humor him .

Jack suppresses a smile and nods slightly. “And it’s mine.”

The nerves freeze like in a game of tag. Eyes narrowed, I shake my head slowly. “Are you teasing me? Insulting me? Listen, I just told you some really personal things and you think it’s okay to?—?”

Jack’s lips part and he shakes his head as if alarmed. “No, not at all. I was just trying to show you that whoever that Slater guy was?—”

“He ruined my life,” I all but sob.

“And he lied to you, Ella,” Jack says softly, resting his hand on my upper arm.

“Obviously. He told me I was special. His one and only. Then he cheated. Probably had been all along. There must be cameras surveilling the boat. He’ll find out I’m out here and, I don’t know, try to ruin my life again. I’ve been illegally living in the hotel, sneaking into rooms to stay at night and working by day, if that weren’t clear. He could have me thrown in jail.”

Once again, Jack’s voice drops. “No, I will find him and destroy him.”

“You have really big muscles, but Slater is so wealthy, he probably has lawyers that have lawyers.”

Jack starts walking back the way we came along the dock. “Come on, I’ll prove it to you.”

“Prove what?” I call, catching up and relieved to be leaving the dock.

He pauses, gaze landing on mine and then very slowly, enunciating each word, he says, “Ella, I’m the billionaire’s son.”

I should dive into the ocean and swim away from this madness right now.

It must be a rich kid thing—they think they’re all billionaire’s sons. I mean, they probably are, but I must have an invisible sign blinking over my head that only people who have nine zeroes in their bank accounts can see. It says, Gullible, gullible, gullible!

When we reach the entrance to the property, I go still, refusing to take another step. Slater probably realized I’ve been staying here, hired Jack to lure me in, and now they’re going to expose me. I’ll be hung on the gallows or whatever they used to do to pirates.

“I can’t go in there.”

Jack exhales through his nose. “I’m not lying to you, Ella. I’m Jack Bouchelle. Allain Bouchelle’s son. Billionaire property tycoon. He owns Jewel Island.”

“I don’t know the owner’s name. You could’ve made that up.”

“My mother’s name was Jewel. He said she was his greatest treasure.” Jack rolls his eyes.

I bunch up my hands. “Aww. That’s kind of sweet.”

“At the grand opening of every resort, he’d gift my mom a gemstone. For this one, he gave her a rare red diamond. Said it was as precious to him as her heart.”

“That’s romantic.”

“Never thought of him that way. More like cunning, cold. But this hotel was her favorite, and that’s why I return to it every year.”

My voice drops when I realize what he means. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

He nods. “It’s not the same without her.”

“My mom passed away when I was little, so I know, but ya know, don’t know. Now I’m not making sense, but this doesn’t either.” My tone is frantic and during the court case, this will surely be used as evidence of my guilt.

Jack draws me toward him, but I stop short of a hug because I don’t trust myself not to melt into his arms .

“Thanks for sharing that with me and for telling me the truth.”

However, doubt that he’s telling me the entire story prick at my mind. Slater duped me once. Maybe this is a repeat with Jack.

He must read the hesitancy in my expression. “You want rock-solid evidence? I don’t usually flaunt my last name—okay, I do all the time—but come inside and I’ll verify my identity.”

“I can’t. Shouldn’t.” Too much is on the line.

“I won’t let anything happen.”

“But—”

Once more, he takes my hand. With his fingers twined in mine, I feel secure, but I still question whether this is a trick. I was wearing Halloween pajamas this morning. Then again, Jack is a real treat. However, my heart has lied to me before.

Bark Wahlburger trots behind us and perches on the side of the mermaid fountain as if contemplating whether to try to snap at the streams of water.

We reach the front desk, a massive swath of marble cut to look like a wave on its side. The front panels glow like oversized backlit gems. Crystal pendant lights overhead sparkle, making the check-in experience a transition from regular life into a tropical water world.

It’s quiet except for the tinkle of non-intrusive music and the trickle of the mermaid fountain.

Yvonne straightens when she spots Jack approaching. “Hello, Mr. Bouchelle.” She wrinkles her nose at the dog who sits at his heel. “I see you brought a guest?”

Jack looks at her with thinly masked displeasure.

“It’s a pleasure to see you again. I’m Yvonne, your Premier Guest Service Associate. How can I meet your needs this evening?” She bats her eyelashes at him and doesn’t acknowledge me .

He says, “The Jewel Suite, please.”

She stammers and asks, “But we had the Ruby Room reserved for you as requested.” She glances at me as if only just registering that Jack isn’t alone.

Her conversation in the break room comes back to me. Yvonne and Minka speculated that the owner’s son would be visiting soon … and that he’s a player, picking a woman for a weekend fling when he visits. My mind scrambles. I glance at the fountain, regretting that I hadn’t been wishing for the truth all this time.

She asks, “Did the Ruby Room fail to meet your expectations?”

“It was perfect. The perfect surprise.” Jack slides his gaze to me and wears a private smile. “The Jewel will be for Ella’s accommodations tonight.”

She looks at me with disdain. “But that’s only for elite guests. Pets aren’t permitted.”

His nostrils flare. “She’s the elitest and Bark Wahlburger is an exception.” He winks at me and then ruffles the fur on the dog’s head.

My jaw wants to hit the floor in shock and, at the same time, my lips are eager to burst into laughter. I’m quite the opposite of being the elitest —notwithstanding that there’s no such word. At least I gained something from my elite degree.

Yvonne opens and closes her mouth a few times.

Jack inclines his head ever so slightly as if to ask what’s taking so long.

She taps away on the computer’s keyboard and then passes him a key.

He doesn’t take it. “It’s for Ella.”

She looks at me for a long, long moment as if unsure whether I belong or that I seem vaguely familiar. The wig works wonders because even Edwina has walked by me and not done a double take.

To her credit, Yvonne maintains her professionalism, hands me the key, and says, “If there’s anything we can do to enhance your stay, please ask. We welcome you to Jewel Island and hope it’s your first memorable visit and certainly not your last.”

It’s the same spiel the front desk workers have to give everyone. But this isn’t my first visit. Not by a long shot. I take the key and feel like if I use it, it’ll unlock my future.